Setts



(No Model.) F. L. 000K8v. J F. ORANSTON. AUTOMATIC GUT-OFF FOR GASSYSTEMS.

No. 542,870. Patented July 16, 1895.

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A 6390i i jfi a a/zsto/a 'UNTTT. STATES Tries.

SETTS; SAID ORANSTON ASSIGNOR TO SAID COOK.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF FOR GAS SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,870, dated July 16,1895.

Application filed December 1-5, 1894. $eria1 No. 531,937. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANCIS L. COOK and JAMES F. CRANSTON, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Out-Offs for Gas Systems; and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic cut-offs forilluminating-gas sys tems, the object in view being to provide a cheapand simple device readily applicable to the present gas system commonlyemployed, the same being so constructed as to operate positively to shutoff the supply of gas at the meter in the event of fire.

Various other objects and advantages of theinvention will hereinafterappear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed outin the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a general view of the gas-meterand the adjacent portion of the pipes, together with our device inposition. Fig. 2 is an elevation in detail of the device. Fig. 3 is anexaggerated view of a portion of the fusible cord.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all thefigures of thedrawings.

1 designates an ordinary gas'-meter, which communicates with the streetsupply by means of the pipe 2. From the opposite end of the meter leadsthe usual service-pipe 3. Inserted within the length of the service-pipe3 is the flexible pipe 4, the same being connected to the service-pipeby the usual joint 5.

Secured to the pipe 1 and located within a metallic casing 6 is a rotarycut-off or valve 7, to the stem of which beyond the valve-casing issecured a toothed segment 8. To the lower end of the valve or cut-offcasing 7 is secured the pipe 9. Secured to the pipes 4 and 9 above andbelow the cut-off is a pair of plates 10, the same having openings forthe passage of the pipes 4 and'9 and being adjustably secured theretothrough the instrumen tality of screws 11. These plates are enlargedtoward their opposite ends and are provided with openings which receivethe upper and lower ends of a barrel or cylinder 12, which, like thepipes 4 and 9, are retained in position by set-screws 13 similar to thescrews 11.

Arranged within the barrel 12 is a reciprocatingrod 14, the sameprojecting beyond and through the opposite ends of the cylinder orbarrel. within the cylinder or barrel with a head 15, and. coiled uponthe rod between the head 15 and the upper end of the cylinder is aspring 16, the tendency of which is to depress the rod and its head.

A pair of collars 17 are arranged upon the rod 14: above and below thebarrel or cylinder, and these collars are held in position by screws 18passing therethrough and bearing on the rod. The collars project towardthe pipes 4 and 5 and to points slightly beyond the vertical plane ofthe cylinder 12.

The ends of the collars are connected by means of a rack-bar 18, screws19 being employed to secure the rack-bar to the collars. The rack-barpasses through suitable openings formed in the two plates 10 and isprovided at its outer edge with teeth 20, which correspond with and aredesigned to engage those of the segment 8. The device as thus describedis inclosed within the metallic casing or box 6, and the same forconvenience may be provided with a removable cover 21. The upper end ofthe box-is at its end and one side of the same provided with openings 22and 23 respectively, the latter being partially surrounded by a collar24:, through which passes a screw 25 that binds upon the pipe. The boxalso has near its lower end an opening 26, and through this passes thepipe 9 that is connected to the system of pipes that supply the burnersof the house. The cover 21 may be locked in position by the chain 27 orany other desired device.

An eye or loop 28 is affixed to the under side of the pipe 4, andconnected to the same and to a perforation 29, with which the upper endof the rod 14= is provided, is the fusible cord 80.

Any desired form of fusible cord, it will be understood, may beemployed, but we prefer to employ the one shown in Fig. 3. This cordcomprises an inner core 31, and the same may be flax, hemp, jute, or, infact, any other fibrous This rod is provided between its ends material,and is at intervals preferably knotted, as at 32. The core is providedwith the wrapping or covering of soft metal 33, the same being capableof being fused at a very low degree of heat, and the same is aided inretaining its position by the presence of the knots in the core. Bywrapping the core with metal the former is preserved against the actionof the atmosphere.

In the event of fire the fusible cord becomes destroyed, thus releasingthe rod 14:, and the spring 16 expanding causes said rod to descend,carrying with it the rack-bar 18 and giving the segment 8, andconsequently the cut-off, to which it is attached, a partial rotation,thus cutting off entirely from the burnare the supply of gas.

It will be seen that our invention is very simple, is readily applicableto those forms of gas systems now employed, and is protected from anyunauthorized tampering, and, finally, is positive in its action.

We do IIOtIlllllll our invention to the precise details of constructionherein shown and described, but hold that we may vary the same to anydegree and extent within the knowledge of the skilled mechanic.

Having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. The combinationwith the gas pipe, the valve or cut-off and the segmental arm connectedto the same, of the adjacently located cylinder, the rod arranged forreciprocation within and extending beyond the ends thereof, the springfor actuating the rod and the rack bar carried by the rod and engagingthe teeth of the segment and the fusible cord connected with the upperend of the rod and to the pipe there-above substantially as specified.

2. The combination with the pipe, the rotary cut-off and the toothedsegmental arm connected therewith, of bracketplates extending from thepipe above and below said cut-off, a cylinder arranged in saidbracketplates, a rod mounted for reciprocation within and extendingbeyond the ends of said cylinder, a spring for normally drawing the rodin one direction, and a fusible cord connected with the upperend,of therod and withthe pipe and serving to draw the rod in a direction againstthe tendency of the said spring, and

a rack bar carried by the rod and having its teeth engaging with thoseof the segment substantially as specified.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with the cut-offmechanism and the pipe there-above, of a fusible cord consisting of aninner core of fibrous material knotted at intervals and an external ofmetal adapted to fuse at a low degree of heat.

4. In a device of the class described, a combination with a gas pipehaving an intermediate valve case and rotary valve arranged therein, atoothed segmental arm connected to the stem of the. rotary valve,perforated plates arranged above and below the valve case upon the pipeand having openings, a cylinder arranged in the openings and extendingabove and below said plates, a rod mounted for reciprocation within thecylinder and extending beyond the ends thereof, collars arranged on therod above and below the cylinder, and extending toward the pipe beyondthe vertical plane of said cylinder, a toothed rack bar connecting thecollars and engaging the teeth of the segment and afusible cordconnected to the upper end of'the rod and adapted to be connected to afixed point above the same for suspending said rod, 2. head arrangedupon the rod within the cylinder and a coil spring interposed betweenthe head and upper end of the cylinder.

5. The combination with the pipe 4 having an eye 28, the pipe 9, theintermediate valve case 7, the rotary valve therein and segmental arm 8of the casing 6 having the openings 23, 22 and 26, the plates extendingfrom the pipes 4 and 9 within the casing 6, the cylinder arranged withinthe casing, the rod arranged for reciprocation within the cylinder, thespring for depressing the red, the collars 17 connected to the rod, thetoothed rack bar 18 connecting the collars, and the fusible cordsubstantially as specified.

' In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANCIS L. COOK. JAMES F. CRANSTON. \Vitnesses:

W. R. HEADY, J. W. FLANNERY.

